Many NCAA concussion regulations already in place at MSU

GALLATIN COUNTY

The NCAA set up a $70 million fund to diagnose and treat brain injuries for athletes Tuesday. The deal applies to men and women and stretches across all sports. Players would be able to later use the results of those tests as ground for lawsuits. The money would also be used to fund research and monitoring.

NCAA officials also agreed to implement a single return-to-play policy spelling out how all teams must treat players who receive blows to the head.

We checked in with Montana State University in Bozeman to learn how the changes could affect the school's athletics program.

MSU officials say they're confident that many potential regulations the NCAA could hand down are already being met or exceeded.

University policy now says athletes who suffer a possible concussion are pulled for at least the rest of the day. They are not allowed to return to practice or play until they are symptom free.

MSU Spokesperson Tracy Ellig says only things like specific types of tests or requirements on time away would ultimately impact the school.

Ellig said, "Those are the kinds of changes we might have to implement. But the fundamental basics of educating student athletes, of having a concussion management plan in place, of treating concussions, and of making sure we monitor them, those things we already have here at MSU."

MSU's policies aren't limited to football. They cover all student athletes regardless of sport or gender.

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